Long-term solution required for flood control: Pema Khandu

To address the recurring flood problem in the state, the Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has called for finding a long-term solution instead of taking short-term measures.

"What we want is a long-term solution. The cost will be high but efforts will be on," the Chief Minister said on Friday.

During his visit to flood-ravaged Namsai district on Friday, Khandu inspected a breached embankment of Noa- Dehing river that has taken a new course through low-lying areas of Lower Silatoo, Nongkhong and Mahadevpur areas crossing NH 52 to rejoin its original course near Mahaloni village, an official release said on Saturday.

The swollen river pose a danger to the entire Mahadevpur town and could be a threat to Namsai area if it is not diverted to its original course, the release said.

Redirecting the river to its original course would involve latest technology, the Chief Minister said, adding the work would be entrusted to the Water Resource department, which would consult specialized firms for river piping to prevent erosion along the 2 km of breached embankment.

"What we want is a long-term solution. The cost will be high but efforts will be on. I have authorized the Chief Secretary to go ahead with the work," he said at a public meeting in Namsai town and announced that the project to channel Nao-Dehing river to its original course will be started soon.

Khandu said the people affected by the floods will be "fully" compensated according to relief norms.

"I have come here to share your sorrow as Chief Minister. Don't worry the government is with you, the administration is with you," he assured.

Responding to the memoranda submitted by the public, Khandu advised the people to be optimistic during a difficult situation like this.

"People are in grief over their loss. If we fill the atmosphere with negativity, it will make them sadder. What we need is a problem-solving attitude. Give them hope," he urged the officials, the release added.

Earlier on Friday, the Chief Minister visited a relief camp in New Silatoo area and promised its inhabitants that there would be no shortage of ration, water supply and medical facilities in the camps.

In view of the flood, the local administration had set up 28 relief camps in which about 6,000 people had taken shelter.

With the flood situation improving, the number of the camps has come down to 4 and the number of inhabitants to 308.

"I have directed the administration and the department to ensure that there is shortage of any facilities in the relief camps," Khandu told the flood victims.

He asked the medical team to stay alert to prevent any outbreak of diseases and assured that if need arises, more manpower will be sent from Itanagar for assistance.

The Chief Minister also asked the local administration to immediately identify a safer place for rehabilitation of relief camp inmates.

He told the gathering that during his visit to New Delhi, he had urged the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju to depute a central team to Arunachal to ascertain the damage in flood affected areas, to which the central ministers had readily agreed.

Khandu had asked the Home Ministry for an aerial survey and accordingly, Rijiju had on Saturday last conducted an assessment of the flood situation with a high-level team from the state accompanied by the Chief Minister.